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Temporary COVID-19 Assistance Program Application 2022

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Tribal Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the Band to establish the Program to promote the general welfare of Band and its Citizens in a manner that is not lavish or extravagant under the circumstances by providing temporary Covid-19 financial assistance to address a need.

The Tribal Council developed the Program with the intention that Assistance to Citizens provided under this Program is an “Indian general welfare benefit” as provided by 26 U.S.C. 139E(a) and therefore excluded from gross income and not subject to tax withholding or reporting under the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act, 26 U.S.C. 139E and IRS Revenue Procedure 2014-35.

This Policy establishes written guidelines under which Citizens and Non-Citizen Parents may qualify for Assistance. (2022 Temporary COVID-19 Assistance Program Policy)

  • Completed applications must be delivered to the Band's Department of Social Services located at: 58620 Sink Road, Dowagiac, Michigan 49047, or by email at ARPA.TCAP@pokagonband-nsn.gov, or by Fax 269-782-4295. No applications will be accepted after 5:00 pm on August 31, 2022.
  • All required documentation must be submitted by September 15, 2022.
  • Temporary COVID-19 Assistance Program is governed by the Temporary COVID Assistance Program Policy (“Policy”), copies of which are available at the Department of Social Services.  The Policy shall control in the event of any conflict with this Application.
  • An Applicant must:

1. Be a Band Citizen or Non-Citizen Parent; and
2. Be at least 18 years of age at the time the Policy is approved by Tribal
Council; and
3. Be a member of a qualifying household under Subsection 5(a)(3)(i) or
5(a)(3)(ii):
(i) A Low Income or Moderate-Income household with a Job Loss:
A. Have a documented Job Loss and meet the requirements of
Subsections5(a) (3)(i)(B) or 5(a)(3)(i)(C) below.
B. A Low Income or Moderate-Income household; based on AMI-area median
C. A household enrolled in one (1) of the following Federal programs:
income calculated by HUD or
1. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP),
2. Childcare Subsidies through the Child Care and Development Fund
3. Medicaid,
4. National Housing Trust Fund for affordable housing programs only,
5. Home Investment Partnerships Program for affordable housing only,
6. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
7. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
8. Free and Reduced-Price Lunch and/or School Breakfast programs
9. Medicare Part D Low-income Subsidies
10. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
11. Head Start and/or Early Head Start (Zagbëgon is not included.)
12.  Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
13. Section 8 Vouchers
14. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
15. Pell Grants.
(ii) A household with an employed adult who has COVID-19 or is unable to
work because of having COVID-19; and

4. Have a Need; and
5. Complete and return to the Department an application as described in Section
8 of this Policy and supply all required documentation.

Types of Need
1. The Applicant may apply for Assistance for the Applicant’s household mortgage, rent, and/or utilities only, because of the Applicant’s Need, and must provide documentation required under this Policy, including that the Applicant’s household is unable to make the mortgage payments, rent payments, and/or utility payments based on current household income.

2. Assistance shall not be used for, nor include expenses that:

(i) have been or will be reimbursed under any federal program or any other Band
program; or
(ii) for damages covered by insurance.

  • Assistance will be provided for proven Need occurring only in April 2022 through September 2022. Applications will not be accepted for any Need occurring prior to April 1, 2022 (no back payments). An applicant must complete an application for each month and provide updated information.
  • The Applicant shall have the burden of proving eligibility and Need under the Program.
  • Applicants must have and retain a copy of all evidence submitted to the Department in support of proving eligibility to receive assistance. The Director shall retain the authority to (1) require an Applicant to provide additional proof of eligibility under this Program; and (2) to extend documentation submission timelines when deemed necessary in his discretion.

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